Goldenboy “Starlight Town” free download at Buzz Bands LA

Goldenboy’s lush and warm but melancholic indie-pop has been a work in progress ever since singer-guitarist Shon Sullivan embarked on the project while playing in Elliott Smith’s band over a decade ago. Through four albums, Sullivan and percussionist Bryan Bos (now joined in the quartet by Nicole Verhamme and Katy Stone) have put the rock in soft-rock, the frontman’s plaintive delivery often belying the emotional weight of his songs about love and loss. Goldenboy’s latest album “The New Familiar” (due Nov. 20 on Eeenie Meenie Records) is a beautifully orchestrated collection that will feel good to fans of bands such as Eels (with whom Sullivan also played) and Earlimart. The new album comes a month after the 10th-anniversary vinyl reissue of Goldenboy’s debut, “Blue Swan Orchestra,” remastered with bonus tracks. That 2002 album features Smith’s vocals on the song “Summertime,” a song Sullivan wrote while on tour with the late songwriter. - Kevin Bronson